A tense, intimate drama that quietly keeps you guessing
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What's it about?
Police officer Joe is working the night shift alone, answering emergency 999 calls when a distressed woman phones asking for help. As he pieces together fragmented clues from the other end of the line, Joe becomes increasingly determined to intervene, but assumptions, good intentions and incomplete information prove to be a dangerous combination.
What we loved best
This is an anxiety-inducing 70 minutes that rarely lets the audience relax. Long periods of silence become just as unsettling as the emergency calls themselves, creating a constant sense of anticipation as you wait for the next crisis to unfold.
The play offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a police call handler. Isolated for the entire performance, Joe deals with relentless emergencies one after another, giving audiences a real appreciation of the pressure, responsibility and emotional toll that comes with the role.
Russell Tovey delivers a thoroughly convincing and naturalistic performance as Joe. Alone on stage for almost the entire production, he captures both the professionalism of an experienced officer and the growing emotional investment that begins to cloud his judgement.
At its heart, The Guilty is less about solving a crime than the dangers of making assumptions. It explores the fine line between helping and overstepping, asking how far someone should go to "fix" a situation before the consequences become irreversible. The twists are carefully revealed, leading to a final secret that audiences have been asked to keep.
The Donmar Warehouse is the perfect setting for this story. Its intimacy makes you feel as though you're sitting beside Joe throughout his shift, peeking into the private world of an emergency call centre where every ringing phone could change a life.
Anything we'd change
The deliberately measured pace, with its extended silences and focus on a single character, won't appeal to everyone. Those expecting a fast-paced, action-led thriller may find the storytelling more restrained than anticipated.
Who would enjoy it?
Those who enjoy Donmar productions, intimate theatre and can handle slow paced suspense.
Who created it?
Written by Chloë Moss, based on the screenplay Den Skyldige by Gustav Möller and Emil Nygaard Albertsen. Directed by Felix Barrett. Designed by Alex Eales, with lighting by Anna Watson, sound by Gareth Fry and video design by Luke Halls.
Verdict
Rather than relying on spectacle, The Guilty builds tension through uncertainty, silence and a compelling central performance. It's an absorbing psychological thriller that leaves audiences questioning just how dangerous assumptions can become—and, in keeping with the production's request, it's best experienced without knowing the final revelation.